Unlocking Architectural Insights: NASA India Research Cell (2.0)

Research has always been the backbone of academic excellence, and in the discipline of architecture, it forms the bridge between theory and practice, vision and reality. It allows students to think critically, innovate responsibly, and engage with architecture not merely as a profession but as a cultural, social, and environmental necessity. Recognizing this, NASA India took a visionary step in its 62nd year (2019–2020) with the establishment of the NASA India Research Cell (NIRC).

The inaugural year of NIRC marked a milestone, producing three seminal papers that explored themes deeply relevant to the architectural community. These were categorized into Group A: Architectural Awareness, Group B: Course Structure, Education System, Mental Health, and Economics of Architecture Students, and Group C: Women in Architecture – Past, Present and Future. Each paper not only highlighted pressing issues but also embodied the spirit of inquiry that NIRC sought to cultivate among students.

Carrying forward this legacy, the 67th year of NASA India introduces a new landmark: the first edition of the NASA India Research Conference (NIRC 2024–25). Moderated by Ar. Bijoy Ramachandran (Director, Hundredhands), this platform will allow students to undergo the rigorous process of academic research and present their findings at the Annual NASA Convention, the largest congregation of architecture students in the nation.

The conference theme is rooted in the pressing challenges of our era—globalisation, climate change, and rapid technological evolution. Sub-themes include re-examining Critical Regionalism, redefining vernacular form and typology, questioning the modern movement, and exploring contemporary intersections such as AI, BIM, virtual experience, and post-modern aesthetics. These inquiries invite students to not only question existing frameworks but to propose radical new departures for architectural thought and practice.

NIRC 2.0 is more than just a platform—it is a movement towards cultivating critical thinkers and responsible practitioners. In an age where architecture must respond to environmental urgency, technological disruption, and cultural homogenisation, research offers the compass. It empowers students to ask not just what we should build, but why, how, and for whom.

By igniting this spirit of inquiry, NASA India ensures that architecture students are not passive learners but active contributors to shaping the future of the built environment.